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If you go on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you can spend a few extra hours in Washington and take one of the later trains back to Williamsburg.

I used to depart and arrive at Ashland (sometimes South Portsmouth, and once Huntington) about 6-7 years ago. At the time, the Ashland stop also served as the Greyhound depot. If the hours are right, you may be able to wait inside. Outside, you'll have a great view of the Ashland bridge and the...

My experience at an unstaffed station with a kiosk is that reservations can be made in advance and paid for on the train. The conductor gives you a hand-written ticket. I've paid in cash every time I've done this, so I can't comment on credit cards. Obviously, I would have used the QuikTrak...

Well, it's too late to be of help, but I'll chime in anyway. I like the idea of getting into RVR on time and catching the Star rather than waiting for the Meteor. I often do this in WAS when traveling CHI-RVM. The standard ticket is 30/125, but only to RVR. I often get in early to WAS and change...

I ride this train two or three times per month out of Richmond Main Street Station, which is two stops north of NPN. It's usually on time, or it it's late, not by more than an hour. One exception: After heavy rain on the east coast, the #67 was several hours behind schedule, and since that train...

I have a cell phone with internet access, a fairly new Virgin Mobile/Qualcomm pre-paid deal. I can partially get Amtrak, but not enough to check schedules and buy tickets. Basically, I like print and I hope Amtrak continues issuing paper schedules for a long time. Advertising---By reading the...

Also, printed schedules themselves are good advertising.

In favor of printed timetables. They're handy to have, very convenient to check schedules without having to call Amtrak, get to a computer (not handy for most of us while en route), or wait in line for a computer print-out. Laptop computers are expensive and bulky to carry around, and cell...

Oops! I meant #50. No local traffic, but I'm thinking of CHI-BAL or CHI-PHL.

Is dinner served on the eastbound Cardinal #30 from Washington to New York?

I once bought a ticket from a QuickTrak machine using a pre-paid Visa gift card, and the ticket came out with the name "You/A Gift For". Conductor took the ticket, no problem. This was on train 66.

Smith-Corona Skyriter Here's an example. Smith-Corona Skyriter, typebar type, moving carriage, manual. I think of it as a "laptop" typewriter, since it can be placed on one's lap while typing on it. I doubt I'll carry it with me on the train. I only asked because I remember seeing the rule...

Actually, I collect, repair and use them all the time. I have several portable manuals that are light enough to carry and use on a train. But, I'm not everybody.

Actually, I disagree with part of that last sentiment. We already have more laws on the books than anybody can count, and they still haven't eliminated crime.

I recall reading in Amtrak's rules regarding checked and carry-on baggage that typewriters are not allowed on board trains. Why not? Could this be an old rule banning portable manual typewriters because people were making too much noise typing aboard trains?

I had a theft experience traveling from Philadelphia to Boston, around 1998-1999. I checked a bag in Philly, and when I picked it up in Boston, it was missing some compact discs and cassette tapes. Theft by Amtrak employees while the bag was checked.

Great scenery, but the view was better when the Cardinal consisted of Superliner equipment and had the Sightseer Lounge for observing the New River Gorge and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

No, I don't feel "called out", just corrected, justifiably so. Believe me, I get really bothered when someone calls an old printing press a "printer". Or when someone "looses" money.

I wrote recently about the Cardinal, referring to its former Superliner consist as having an Observation car, which was incorrect. It had a Sightseer Lounge. What's the difference between a Sightseer Lounge and an Observation car?

When traveling in coach from New Orleans to Austin, there's a transfer in San Antonio. Do they switch the entire car from the Sunset to the Eagle, allowing passengers to wait in their seats? Or do you have to go inside the station and wait from 3am to 7am?